April 10 – 16 is National Volunteer Week and every single volunteer deserves our appreciation and grateful acknowledgement. Across the United States, an army of trained volunteers — more than 430,000 — gave more than 19 million hours of service last year to care for hospice patients.

Right here in our community, 32 trained volunteers work with Hospice of the Bluegrass to serve patients and their families in Bell, Clay, Harlan, Knox, Laurel and Whitley counties. Even when time together may be short, there can be a lot of living to do. Hospice volunteers make more special moments possible every day for the patients they serve. Our communities are better, more compassionate places because of their service and we thank them.

To learn more about hospice or how to volunteer, I encourage you to contact Hospice of the Bluegrass’s Barbourville Office at (606) 277-2160 or visit www.hospicebg.org.